Day 16 & 17 with Dougherty: On the Wild Side

We all knew this moment would come; the feeling that “it’s all gone by so fast!”

In the final days of sculpture installation, crew members clipped, fastened, mulched, and made time to just stand back and relish in the final touches of the near 80 x 20 x 20 sculpture cooperatively named “On the Wild Side.” On Thursday, September 22, Patrick hosted a “Dinner with Dougherty” benefit at the Hui where he shared colorful anecdotes about his time and work at the Hui with 50 project supporters. Friday, September 23, marked the blessing and opening celebration of the final sculpture, marking a new beginning for Ho`ololi: the Environmental Art Garden – a new public art program that will to continue to cultivate community and raise awareness about Hawai‘i’s endangered ecosystems by inspiring conversation, encouraging public participation, and creating fellowship between artists and environmentalists.

The free opening celebration was attended by nearly 300 guests and featured information booths for conservationist groups like Community Work Day, East Maui Watershed Partnership Partnership, Leeward Haleakala Watershed Partnership and Maui Invasive Species Committee; a lei making workshop led by our very own Jessica Hoecker; live music by Hawaiian slack key guitarist John “Keoni” Trino; and artist meet-and-greets of those featured in the current Visualizing Green exhibition in the main gallery.

Mahalo to our day 16 & 17 crew:
Bill Worcester
Carla Thistle
Claudio Johnson
Ed Weller
Elaine
Frank Kane
Janet Davis
Jenn Atkinson
Joan Nielsen
Kim Harter
Linda Schenk
Nathalie Nunez
Patrick Dougherty
Rachel Ray
Ryan Rea
Tara Branham

ABOUT: Guided by legendary Stickwork sculptor Patrick Dougherty, who has completed more than 200 such installations worldwide, nearly 200 volunteers worked closely together for 17 days to remove thousands of saplings of invasive strawberry guava, white ash and eucalyptus from protected forest areas; transport them to the Hui; dig deep holes in the ground to firmly lodge base saplings; and bend, twist and weave together what slowly evolved into a piece Dougherty aptly named “On the Wild Side.” A project developed over the course of 2 years, this large-scale masterpiece was made possible by hundreds of inspired donors, volunteers, collaborators, and other supporters. The projected lifespan of this sculpture is 3 years (September 2011 – September 2014).

Day 15 with Dougherty: Art & Nature for Kids

Three school groups joined us at the Hui today for “Explore & Discover” field trips designed in conjunction with Dougherty’s artist residency. Nearly 40 children worked with Hui teaching artists Shay Hoffer & Curtis Yu to create artwork inspired by nature, learn about invasive species from MISC education specialist Lissa Fox Strohecker, take a tour of the Visualizing Green exhibition in our main gallery, meet & greet a featured artist exhibited in the show, enjoy a Stickwork demo with Dougherty’s art assistant, Nathalie Nunez, and be amongst the first to experience a walk-through of the larger-than-life sculpture, which will be formally unveiled to the public at tomorrow’s blessing & opening celebration. Students were beside themselves with excitement as they had a chance to meet Patrick Dougherty, take pictures in front of the work of art and have Stickwork books signed. It was a fitting addition to the level of energy, excitement and productivity as we all work together to complete the sculpture before Patrick’s departure on Saturday morning. Only 1 day to go! A bittersweet reality.

Keiki pose with their new "Wrapped up in Nature" workshop creations

Nunez asks the group to guess what kind of invasive species we're using today in the sculpture

Caroline Killhour addresses the group, responding to oodles of questions about her artwork in the Visualizing Green exhibition

Maizie Sanford stops by to visit the sculpture...and her mother's childhood home, the Hui!

Mahalo to today's Stickwork crew:
Birgitte Golden
Chet Witek
Elaine
Jenny-li Hellsen
Julia Baldwin
Kathy Yoo
Nicklaus Yoo
Steve Yoo
Taylor Nevhoff
Bill Worcester
Frank Kane
Hanna Hammerli
Irene Gombac
Judy Bisgard
Nathalie Nunez
Patrick Dougherty
Ryan Rea

Day 10 – 14 with Dougherty: More Sticks!

If you watched the video on this blog post, you’ll note some cheering & laughter as we prematurely celebrated the abundant harvest of materials we gathered over the course of 3-days expected to complete Dougherty's gigantic work of public art.

Well, if you haven’t guessed by now- we needed more!

We have been so fortunate to have such devoted, inspired, energetic volunteers working with us on this project; hundreds of community members have been stepping up to the plate, tools in hand, ready and willing to snip, cut, truck, weave, rake, and just pitch in in any way they can throughout the duration of this sculpture installation. A special mahalo to the State Department of Land & Natural Resources for facilitating the permit process (again & again) and for offering so many helping hands over the course of the last week as we collected additional white ash in Makawao Forest Reserve and strawberry guava in Huelo.

We’re nearly finished!

Mahalo to the latest crew members, many of which have put in multiple days of volunteerism!
Amy Chang
Ana Olvera
Anne-Marie Forsythe
Bill Worcester
Carla Schneider
Carla Thistle
Carol Childerhouse
Caroline Killhour
Claudia Johnson
Claudio Marchetti
Dan Cho
David & Kathy Parish
Dep't of Land & Natural Resources Crew
Don May
Ed Weller
Elaine Wender
Elizabeth
Frank
Gilson Killhour
Heidi Karin Konwalinka
Irene Gombac
Jane Honeycutt
Janet Davis
Jenny-Li
Joan Veilsen
Joani Hixen
John Cassel
Jonie
Judy Bisgard
Julio Spee
Kari McCarthy
Kay Mcleaod
Kelly McHugh
Lana Coryell
Leaf Van Alstine
Linda Proshe
Linda Weller
Lorne Boyd
Mary Grandy
Miguel Rivas
Nathalie Nunez
Patrick Dougherty
Rachel Deboer
Rachel Edelman
Rachel Hecksher
Rachel Hodara
Robert Meyer
Robin Ferrier
Ryan Rea
Sandy Rice
Sara Farrignton
Stephanie Cliffton
Suzzana Goodwin
Tim Farrington
Tim Garcia
Tom Faught
Wolfgang Beoker
Wolfram Schenk

Don’t forget, the sculpture blessing & opening celebration is scheduled for THIS FRIDAY, September 23 from 5 – 7 pm at Hui No`eau. Please gather your friends and family to help us bid Dougherty a warm aloha and congratulate the hundreds of volunteers and supporters that have made this incredible experience possible. See you there!

Day 9 with Dougherty: Meet & Greet

Today's Brown Bag Lunch event featured a meet & greet with artist Patrick Dougherty and preliminary overview of how the Stickwork sculpture will develop toward its completion in just 9 short days. Guests enjoyed a homemade meal by board members Shannon Hoekstra & Tim Garcia and eagerly signed up as volunteers for today's afternoon shift. We had a great turnout, with more than 20 pair of hands on deck as we weaved 'til our heart's content!

Mahalo to today's crew:
Anne-Marie Forsythe
Bill Worcester
Carrie
Charlie Noland
Elaine
Heidi Karin Konwalinka
Husa
Janet Davis
Jarod Mower
Joan Nielsen
Judy Bisgard
Julio Spee
Kelly McHugh
Keri Meyer
Lana Coryell
Larry Lamber
Leaf Van Alstine
Nathalie Nunez
Patrick Dougherty
Ryan Rea
Tim Garcia

Hui volunteers & guests enjoy a delicious gourmet lunch, prepared by board members Shannon Hoekstra and Tim Garcia. Mahalo to you both!

Longtime Hui volunteer and former board president Judy Bisgard prepares to weave eucalyptus leaves into the initial structures.

Staff member Kelly McHugh poses as a beautiful bird in her nest for photographer (and former Pippers model) Anne-Marie Forsythe

Lana Coryell, Keri Meyer, Anne-Marie Forsythe & Judy Bisgard inside of the sculpture

Don't forget tomorrow's artist talk & panel discussion with Dougherty and friends, an intimate occasion to learn about the artist's 30-year history doing this work and to contribute to a communal dialogue about why & how artists and environmentalists can activate social change by working together.

Pass it on!

Day 8 with Dougherty: The Form Unforms

Dougherty's crescent-shaped forms are rapidly unfolding on the grounds of Hui No`eau, as he and his right-hand woman, Nathalie Nunez, lead a new crew of volunteers each day in the in's & out's of Stickwork construction. Take a look:

Mahalo to today's crew:
Becky Lewis
Bill Worcester
Carla Thistle
Chris Miller
Claudia Johnson
Fiama Von Shuetze
Francis Kone
Jeanne Paynick
Jill Bernshause
Judy Bisgard
Michelle Jewell
Nathalie Nunez
Patrick Dougherty
Rose Gabriel
Zoe Brownbird

We are offering 2 exciting opportunities this week to meet the artist and learn more about how and why this project came to be: 1) A luncheon at 12:00 pm today (September 13), compliments of Hui board members Shannon Hoekstra & Tim Garcia and 2) An artist talk, slideshow and panel discussion this Thursday, (September 15)/ FREE, moderated by Keith Wolter, Executive Director of the Maui AIDS Foundation and host of KAOI's Maui Non-Profit Directors Association Radio Show, with panelists Patrick Dougherty, Arts & Science Illustrator Ghalib El-Khalidi, Hui Executive Director Caroline Killhour, Founder and Board President of Hawaiian Islands Land Trust Helen Nielsen, and Maui Invasive Species Committee Manager Teya Penniman. Learn more here.

If you would like to join us for lunch today, please call 572-6560 to pre-order ($25/ person). Thursday's artist talk & panel discussion is FREE, beginning at 5:30 pm. We hope you'll join us!

Day 5-7 with Dougherty: Setting & Weaving

It was a great weekend of scaffolding, digging, de-leafing and large-scale weaving with Dougherty and some 60 volunteers. We are clearly beginning to see the artist's vision in the sculpture that is developing here at Hui No`eau. With only a week & a half to go, there's plenty of work to be done!







We hope to see you at tomorrow's Brown Bag Lunch event and Thursday's Artist Talk & Panel Discussion (details here), both great opportunities to chat with the team and learn more about this groundbreaking program. Visit us online for more.

Mahalo to the following for their hard work and infectious energy this weekend:

Friday's crew:

Carla Thistle

Claudio Marchetti

Elaine Wender

Heide Karin Konwalinka

Julie Spee

Kelly Cannon

Larry Lambert

Lorne Boyd

Luana Coonen

Michael Stone

Nathalie Nunez

Patrick Dougherty

Renee Sante

Rose Gabriel

Tara Branham

William Worcester

Saturday's crew:

Ashley Cooper

Bev Linquist

Briget Ryan

Carla Thistle

Carol Schwarz

Christine Macdonald

Cliris Cruikshank

Colin Meston

Gena Ryan

Grace Woods

Karuna Santoro

Lorne Boyd

Marlee Blakeman

Maya Okamara

Nathalie Nunez

Neil Waring

Patrick Dougherty

Pua Logan

Rachel Deboer

Rita Ryan

Rose Gabriel

Ryan Rea

Sunday's crew:

Amy Puz

Bev Lindquist

Bill worcester

Carla Thistle

Christine Macdonal

Elizabeth Michalkow

Grace Woods

Heidi Konwalinka

Jenny Sheeham

Kyle Barnett

Miranda Camp

Nathalie Nunez

Patrick Dougherty

Pua Logan

Ryan Rea

Ted Krawczyle

Day 4 with Dougherty: Setting the Base

The base sticks are set! Today was spent drilling 60 holes into the build site- about 2 feet deep, where the large strawberry guava sapling base will outline Dougherty’s sculpture- and setting the initial trees into place. Take a look:

It's harder than it looks, folks

The thrilling maiden saplings enter Hui soil!

Mahalo to today's crew for your hard work
and a great launch to the build portion of the project:

Becky Lewis
Bill Worcester
Chris Cruikshank
Claudio Marchetti
Courtney Turner
Elaine Wender
Heide Karin Konwalinka
Julio Spee
Kathleen MacDonal
Kay McLeod
Leaf Van Alstine
Lorne Boyd
Nathalie Nunez
Patrick Dougherty
Ryan Rea
Tara Branham

Only 15 days until the unveiling and blessing of the final sculpture: Friday, September 23 at 5:00 pm/ FREE at Hui No`eau. Don't forget, there's still plenty of time to get involved over the next 2 weeks: volunteer, take a class, rent Hui space for a party or special event, attend an artist talk, join us for a special dinner with Dougherty, and more! Take a look at the program web page here.

Drill, baby, drill!

The base.

Day 3 with Dougherty: From Polipoli to the Hui

Today’s volunteers on the 3rd and final harvest day for the gigantic Stickwork sculpture were split into 2 groups; half to gather, chop and bundle eucalyptus in Polipoli State Park and the other half to collect the unbelievably abundant collection of strawberry guava from Monday’s Huelo harvest. Both known as invasives here on Maui, eucalyptus and strawberry guava are non-indigenous species that invade native habitats causing negative affects to the area environmentally and ecologically, which means they virtually choke out most all other native plant-life like a weed.

While the main goal of the past 3 days has been to accumulate enough material to create a work of art, countless takeaways have followed us back home. Working alongside DLNR & MISC has been a truly educational experience, as Hui staff, board members, artists and friends engaged in thoughtful discussion throughout each day learning more and more about the importance of safeguarding our natural island resources. It has been rewarding to also be able to share our point of view with these groups about how art can create a bridge of understanding the seemingly overwhelming environmental issues they tackle through their organizational missions- helping to attract and engage new audiences with a hands-on, aesthetically beautiful project that will serve to inspire a new wave of community discourse.

We will be talking more about this topic at next Thursday’s (Sept 15) artist talk & panel discussion, FREE, beginning at 5:30 pm. We would love to hear what you think! In the meantime, please visit us at the Hui between now and September 23rd to witness the live exhibition that will become Patrick Douugherty’s Stickwork installation.

Visit us online for other opportunities to spend time with the artist and your local arts community. Check out our Facebook page for photos, videos & more.

Lissa Fox (MISC), Anne Marie Forsythe (Hui) & Rose Gabriel (volunteer) after a long day collecting eucalyptus in Polipoli

Volunteers load Tim Garcia's truck with strawberry guava in Huelo

Rachel Hodara after a long day of awesome

The afternoon crew after unloading a tractor-trailer of guava

A big Mahalo to today's crew:

Abelardo Rojas Umana
Anne-Marie Forsythe
Carl Polk
Christian Visoria
Gabe Mott
Gilson Killhour
Heide Karin Konwalinka
Jared Barros
Julio
Kelly McHugh
Lana Coryell
Lance De Silva & crew
Larry Lambert
Lissa Fox
Miguel Rivas
Mike Ade
Nathalie Nunez
Patrick Dougherty
Rachel Hodara
Rose Gabriel
Ryan Rea
Stephanie "Mapu" Kowalski
Tim Garcia

Day 2 with Dougherty: Gathering in Waihe`e

Today’s Hui volunteers were joined by staff members of the State Department of Land & Natural Resources and the Maui Invasive Species Committee to collect sculpture materials from the Waihe`e Ridge Trail area.

A devoted teammate and vital resource since Doughtery’s January site visit, DLNR’s Lance De Silva and (amazing!) crew participated in today’s harvest to help promote environmental well-being of Hawaiian land and to treat removal sites for the prevention of re-growth. Led by education specialist and Hui workshop collaborator Lissa Fox, the (outstanding!) MISC team worked closely with Hui artists & supporters to share information about why strawberry guava is harmful to the Hawaiian ecosystem and how this project can help spread the word. Stickwork artist Patrick Dougherty spent the first part of the day side-by-side with some 20 volunteers to bundle and transport hundreds of guava saplings and the remainder of the day scouting out areas for tomorrow’s 3rd and final day of the harvest. It was an incredible day in the field with stunning views, great exercise and a lot of laughs with new friends.

Mahalo to DLNR, MISC & the following individuals for your help today:

Abelardo Rojas Umana
Anne-Marie Forsythe
Carl Polk
Carla Thistle

Courtney Turner

Kathryn Kaufmann

Kelly McHugh
Lana Coryell
Lance De Silva & crew
Larry Lambert

Leaf Van Alstine

Lorne Boyd

Nathalie Nunez
Patrick Dougherty
Rachel Deboer
Rachel Hodara
Christian Visoria
Jared Barros
Lissa Fox
Mike Ade
Stephanie "Mapu" Kowalski

Click here if you are interested in volunteering to build what is slowly developing into Maui’s largest work of public art (made of sticks!) and be sure to help spread the word about this collaborative field trip program between Hui No`eau and MISC, available to school and community groups on a first-come, first-served basis.

Upcoming Dates to Remember:

Tuesday, September 13 / 12:00 noon
Brown Bag Lunch Event

Thursday, September 15 / 5:30 pm / FREE
Primitive Ways in an Accelerated World: Artist Talk & Panel Discussion w/ Dougherty & Friends

Thursday, September 22: 6:00 pm
Dinner with Patrick Dougherty (Only 50 Seats Available)

Friday, September 23/ 5:00 pm / FREE
Sculpture Blessing & Opening Celebration

Today's (awesome) crew at the head of the trail

Kat Kaufmann loads up her truck with a heavy load of guava

Lissa Fox shows off her looping skills

Mayor Alan Arakawa stops by the Hui, meeting Dougherty & crew

Day 1 with Dougherty: The Huelo Harvest

Within moments of his arrival at the Hui yesterday evening following a 5,000-mile trek from North Carolina, Patrick Dougherty was already playing with sticks.

The Hui Programs team welcomed the artist for his 20-day residency with a handful of stick-specimens in order to best determine a strategy for dispersing volunteers for a 3-day harvest period. With the help of 21 staff members & volunteers, we successfully removed hundreds of strawberry guava saplings from the Huelo-based home of Ariel & Carrie Gebb during today's launch of the project term.

According to our friends at MISC, strawberry guava is regarded as the most damaging invasive plant in the state, having no natural enemies or competitors in all of Hawai`i. The 10-30 foot tall trees leave a sea of red fruits and seeds that are ingested by birds, boar and other animals and dispersed throughout forest areas. It forms dense thickets replacing native Hawaiian plants, and damages the watershed services that diverse forests provide. Its spread over thousands of acres is said to be beyond the possibility of control by existing methods. To learn more, take a look at this video. One of our goals for using strawberry guava is to work with organizations like MISC to help raise awareness in the larger community about Hawaii's endangered ecosystems and move toward a solution.

With just 2 more days of harvesting and 17 more of planning and building the gigantic Stickwork installation at Hui No`eau, we invite you to volunteer to help gather materials and help build the artwork, or to register for a class or special event to help support the project: Sign up to volunteer here/ Learn about classes & events here.

Mahalo to the following for your hard work today!

Amy Chang
Anne-Marie Forsythe
Becky Lewis
Carla Thistle
Colin Meston
Gilson Killhour
Jarod Mower
Jupiter Nielsen
Kathryn Kaufmann
Kelly McHugh
Keri Meyer
Lana Coryell
Lorne Boyd
Nathalie Nunez
Patrick Dougherty
Rachel DeBoer
Rachel Hodara
Rose Gabriel
Sandra Florence
Tara Branham
Ted Krawczyk
Zachary Gabriel

Kat & Nathalie bundle strawberry guava while the group continues to collect.

Kelly pretends to be as hard core as Gilson, who wouldn't dare let her use his chainsaw.

Keri, Anne-Marie & Sandra bond over their excitement to use big tools.

About this program:

The Hui's Artist-in-Residence program A) provides artists with time & space to create new work; B) serves as a catalyst for the exchange of artistic ideas and information between artist and community; and C) introduces unique art forms thus continually reaching and inspiring new audiences and artistic developments in our community.

This year, the Hui is tremendously proud to work with world-renowned environmental sculptor Patrick Dougherty. During his 20-day visit, the artist will work directly with the community to develop, plan and create a site-specific installation using saplings of invasive tree species. The final sculpture will mark the launch of the Hui No`eau Environmental Art Garden: Ho`ololi, a new public art program which aims to cultivate community and raise awareness about Hawai‘i’s endangered ecosystems by inspiring conversation, encouraging public participation, and creating fellowship between artists and environmentalists.